Poll: Most Americans still confident in Clinton as president

Only a third of public favors impeachment

By Keating Holland/CNN

WASHINGTON (Sept. 12) -- Only a quarter of all Americans say it was necessary for Independent Counsel Ken Starr's report to describe President Bill Clinton's sexual encounters with Monica Lewinsky in such specific detail, a new CNN/Gallup poll reveals.

Although the Starr report has made most Americans feel less favorable
toward Clinton, the poll suggests only a third say that Friday's revelations have made them lose confidence in his ability to serve as president.

As a result, only 37 percent think Clinton is unfit to be president, and his approval rating is still about 60 percent.

Only a third say Clinton should be impeached and removed from office, although a majority of those questioned call on Congress to censure the president.

Clinton may not be out of the woods, though, since only 39 percent of the country had heard any details of the Starr report by Friday night. As those details become more widespread over the weekend, there is some chance Clinton's standing with the public could suffer some damage.

The poll results are based on interviews with 631 adult Americans conducted September 11, after the Starr report was released to the public. There is a sampling error of +/- 4 percentage points.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is
handling his job as president?
approve
Now 62%
Sept. 10 60
Sept. 1 62
Based on what you know at this point, do you think that
Bill Clinton should or should not be impeached and
removed from office?
Yes No
Now 32% 63%
Sept. 10 31 63
August 21-23 29 67
Do you think Bill Clinton should or should not resign
now and turn the presidency over to Al Gore?
Yes No
Now 34% 62%
Sept. 10 35 61
Regardless of whether or not you think Clinton should be
impeached, do you think Congress should or should not vote
to censure Clinton -- that is, pass a formal resolution
expressing disapproval of his actions?
Yes No
Now 58% 36%
Sept. 10 58 36
Clinton Should...
Yes No
Be censured 58% 36%
Resign 34 62
Be impeached 32 63
Overall, would you say Bill Clinton is fit or unfit to be
president of the United States?
Fit 59%
Unfit 37
Have you yourself read or heard any of the specific details
of the Starr report that was publicly released (Friday) afternoon?
Yes 39%
No 61
Just your impression -- do you think the Starr report is a
fair and accurate account of Clinton's actions, or do you
think it is an unfair and distorted account of Clinton's actions?
Now Sept. 10
Fair 41% 47%
Unfair 37 33
In an effort to establish whether Clinton lied under oath
about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, do you think
it is necessary or not necessary for the Starr report to
describe their sexual encounters in specific detail?
Necessary 26%
Not necessary 72
Which of the following statements comes closest to your
view of Bill Clinton as a result of the Starr report:
(A) You feel less favorably toward Clinton and have lost
confidence in his ability to serve as president; (B) You
feel less favorably toward Clinton but have not lost
confidence in his ability to serve as president;
(C) You do not feel less favorably and have not lost
confidence in his ability to serve as president.
Less favorably, lost confidence 34%
Less favorably, not lost confidence 32
Not less favorably, not lost confidence 30